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Last update - 08:37 20/01/2008 Top scientist to address global warming at Herzliya conference By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Global warming, Israel  One of the world's most influential environmental scientists is set to present a controversial argument here Sunday against the focus on reducing greenhouse gases and favoring R&D and better planning for the results of global warming such as hurricanes. Professor Bjorn Lomborg argues that funds should be invested in research and development that in a few decades will spawn technology to produce clean energy that all countries can use. Until then, the focus should be on improving readiness for possible disasters caused by global warming. Lomborg is the keynote speaker at a special session on climate change at the eighth Herzliya conference on policy and strategy, which opens today at the Knesset. Advertisement Lomborg, who has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, says that working toward reducing greenhouse gases also limits funding to needs such as improving welfare, health and the economy in developing countries. Lomborg's views contradict government policy in most countries, as well as the opinions of scientific bodies and environmental organizations. According to Lomborg, who arrived in Israel over the weekend, there is no doubt that global warming caused by humans is taking place. But there are exaggerations, he says. "One of the most outstanding examples of these exaggerations is the rise in sea level," Lomborg told Haaretz. "Nobel laureate Al Gore talks about a rise of six meters, but the United Nations team of scientists on climate change says that it is only a matter of a few dozen centimeters, and that is a significant difference." Lomborg cites the possible extinction of the polar bear due to the melting of the ice caps. "The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol [to reduce greenhouse gases] will save a few bears a year," Lomborg says. "If we stop hunting the bears we will save nearly 300." Regarding concerns over increased hurricane activity, he says that "experience shows that damage and loss can be prevented mainly by proper planning of construction and drainage" in threatened areas. "If it's going to be that much hotter, then people should have more air conditioning and cooling of urban areas by plants and water features," he says. Lomborg adds that in the future more people will die of the heat, but fewer will die of the cold. Five years ago 42-year-old resident of Copenhagen wrote a best-selling book "The Skeptical Environmentalist" in which he challenged most accepted environmental theories. A few years ago he established the Copenhagen Consensus Center to formulate priorities for investing in various areas of importance for human existence Bookmark to del.icio.us   The father of the victim Father of terror victim slams Olmert for letting PA try the killers. And you're out German hip-hop artist thrown off reality show over Hitler salute.   1.   It makes enormous sense!! 08:35  |  S 20/01/08   2.   It makes sense, too 09:09  |  Eldar 20/01/08   3.   Hypocrisy reigns 09:36  |  Merle 20/01/08   4.   re: Eldar 09:52  |  Efox 20/01/08   5.   The Global Warming Hoax 10:06  |  Clickfool 20/01/08   6.   Clickfool 11:46  |  S 20/01/08   7.   Talkback geniuses 14:15  |  Eldar 20/01/08   8.   Eldar 16:48  |  S 20/01/08   9.   OK, S. 16:59  |  Eldar 20/01/08   10.   Having said that... 17:07  |  Eldar 20/01/08   11.   Eldar 17:25  |  S 20/01/08   12.   Eldar 02:59  |  Eugene 21/01/08   13.   Perhaps getting somewhere 08:38  |  Eldar 21/01/08   14.   Eldar, once more 11:27  |  S 21/01/08   15.   Global warming real but unpreventable 10:18  |  Oron 22/01/08   16.   On the sun-spots data 10:24  |  Oron 22/01/08   17.   Lomborg is not an environmental scientist! 13:30  |  Olaf Corry 22/01/08   18.   Olaf Corry 16:29  |  S 22/01/08   19.   Thought the string was over... 10:06  |  Eldar 23/01/08   20.   S and subsidies 10:08  |  Eldar 23/01/08   21.   www.lomborg-errors.dk not bad site 00:37  |  Olaf 24/01/08

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